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Giggs’ plan for Rashford was thwarted by Hodgson

Ryan Giggs wanted to keep Marcus Rashford away from the “spotlight” when he first broke through at Manchester United.

Rashford burst onto the scene at United with a brace on his first-team debut in the Europa League against FC Midtjylland in February.

The forward followed that up with another two-goal salvo in a Premier League win over Arsenal, as he established himself as a key player under Louis van Gaal.

Former assistant manager Giggs wanted to protect Rashford however, and hoped that he would not be selected for senior England duty despite his remarkable form.

He played one fixture in the build-up to Euro 2016, and was chosen in Roy Hodgson’s subsequent England squad, much to the chagrin of Giggs.

“When Ryan was working as assistant manager, Marcus had just broken into the team and we were deciding which age group to put him with,” Gareth Southgate, then-manager of England’s Under-21 side, said.

“We felt maybe putting him in the Under-21s straight away would put too much spotlight on him, so I think the club were grateful for that.

“But then Roy picked him for the seniors about two months later.

“So that plan was out the window but you can also see why because, blimey, the impact he had at the time and then immediately with England was fantastic.”